A strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck parts of Japan on Thursday, leading officials to issue a Tsunami Advisory that prompted residents to evacuate to higher ground for safety. Scientists are warning that a potentially stronger earthquake may strike the same area in the upcoming days.
In response to the earthquake and the tsunami warning, Japanese officials convened an emergency meeting, urging citizens to be ready for immediate action in the event of another major seismic event.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) revealed that between 1904 and 2014, there were 1,437 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater, with six instances where a magnitude 8.0 or larger quake followed within a week in the same region. Notably, a magnitude 7.0 tremor occurred just two days before the devastating 9.0 earthquake and Pacific-wide tsunami in March 2011.
The JMA stated the likelihood of an 8.0 or larger earthquake happening in the same area within seven days of a 7.0 quake is roughly “about once in several hundred times.”
“The risk of a large earthquake occurring in the expected focal area of the Nankai Trough is relatively elevated,” the JMA reported on its website.
Thursday’s earthquake, which occurred off the southern coast of Kyushu, was felt by communities throughout the region and generated tsunami waves that reached nearly 2 feet. Although the Tsunami Advisory has since been rescinded, the JMA cautioned that minor sea-level fluctuations could still happen as a result of the quake.
Following the earthquake, scientists gathered to analyze its relation to the Nankai Trough, located approximately 560 miles offshore. The JMA highlighted the diverse nature of Nankai Trough earthquakes, indicating that the area affected by a large-scale quake could be limited to the vicinity of Thursday’s tremor or could potentially encompass the entire Nankai Trough.
Should a major earthquake occur, the JMA warned of strong shaking across a wide area of Japan, from the Kanto to the Kyushu regions, with the potential for a significant tsunami along the Pacific coastline from Kanto to Okinawa.
“Please implement disaster prevention measures as advised by the government and local authorities,” the JMA urged. “The Japan Meteorological Agency will continue to monitor crustal activity along the Nankai Trough closely.”